Chanelle Scheepers wins first WTA title in Guangzhou

At the age of 27 Chanelle Scheepers clinched her maiden title on the WTA Tour at the WANLIMA Guangzhou International Women’s Open in China.

Never before this tournament had Scheepers been past the quarterfinals of a WTA event and to reach the title match in Guangzhou the South African played three-setters in all rounds – in the first round against Anastasija Sevastova, in the second against Hsieh Su-Wei, in the quarters against Urszula Radwanska and in the semis against top seed Maria Kirilenko. The final was a whole different story for Scheepers, whose game clicked and she cruised past Magdalena Rybarikova 6-2 6-2.

At No.72 Rybarikova is just one place higher ranked than Scheepers, but the Slovakian came to the final as a much bigger name, having had two titles and one runner-up position to her name. (photo via Guangzhou Open)